Jahlani Tavai

Jahlani Tavai was signed by the New England Patriots to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on October 13, 2021 ... Originally drafted by Detroit in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft ... Released by Detroit (8/31/21) ... Signed by New England to the practice squad (9/2/21) ... Elevated by New England to the active roster from the practice squad (9/25/21) ... Reverted back to the New England practice squad (9/27/21) ... Elevated by New England to the active roster from the practice squad (10/2/21) ... Reverted back to the New England practice squad (10/4/21).

PRONOUNCED - ja-LAN-EE TAH-va-yah

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Jahlani Tavai was signed by the New England Patriots to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on October 13, 2021 ... Originally drafted by Detroit in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft ... Released by Detroit (8/31/21) ... Signed by New England to the practice squad (9/2/21) ... Elevated by New England to the active roster from the practice squad (9/25/21) ... Reverted back to the New England practice squad (9/27/21) ... Elevated by New England to the active roster from the practice squad (10/2/21) ... Reverted back to the New England practice squad (10/4/21).

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2024 (13/13)

• Serves as a starting linebacker on defense.
• Wore the green dot in place of the injured LB Ja'Whaun Bentley at the New York Jets (9/19) and finished with 9 tackles, 1 for loss.
• Finished with 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assisted) and 1 special teams tackle in the win vs. the New York Jets (10/27).
• Registered his fourth-career interception at Tennessee (11/3) when he picked off QB Mason Rudolph in the end zone on a pass intended for TE Chig Okonkwo. Had a team-leading 11 tackles, his fifth-career game of 10-plus tackles and the most since he set his career-high of 14 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, 2023.
• Led the team in tackles with 8, adding 1 quarterback hit, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 special teams tackle. Sacked QB Caleb Williams in the fourth quarter for a 7-yard loss, contributing to the team's total of 9 sacks, tied for the second-most in franchise history. Played a key role in limiting the Bears offense to 142 yards total, the Patriots' fewest allowed since November 20, 2022, when they held the New York Jets to 103 yards.
• Had his eighth-straight game with at least 5 total tackles at Miami (11/24), finishing tied with CB Marcus Jones for the team lead in total tackles with 8.
• Set up LB Christian Elliss' first-career interception when he tipped a pass from QB Anthony Richardson intended for WR Michael Pittman Jr. on a second-and-11 situation in the first quarter vs. Indianapolis (12/1). It was the second interception by a Patriots linebacker in 2024, the first by Tavai at Tennessee on Nov. 3.

2023 (17/16)

• Played in 17 games with 16 starts and recorded a career-high 107 tackles (63 solo, 44 assists), 1 sack for a loss of 9 yards, 2 interceptions, 4 quarterback hits, 5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 5 passes defensed and 3 special teams tackles.
• Part of the 7th-ranked defense that finished fourth in the NFL against the run in 2023, allowing 93.2 yards rushing per game. It is the third lowest in team history since the 1970 merger.
• Compiled 10 or more tackles in two games :
  • Week 14 at Pittsburgh (14)
  • Week 17 at Buffalo (10)
• He became the first Patriots linebacker with at least two picks in a season since LB Jamie Collins Sr. had three interceptions in 2019.
• Recorded his first sack of the season on a third-down play in the third quarter at Dallas (10/1) to force the Cowboys to settle for a field goal.
• Intercepted a pass following a hit by S Jabrill Peppers to end a Raiders drive at the New England 14-yard line in the first quarter at Las Vegas (10/15). It was the second interception of Tavai's career.
• Recorded his first forced fumble vs. Washington (11/5) as a member of the Patriots when he forced a fumble after a short gain by RB Brian Robinson Jr. that was recovered by DL Davon Godchaux at the Washington 25-yard line. The turnover helped set up the Patriots first touchdown on a 14-yard pass from QB Mac Jones to TE Hunter Henry three plays later.
• Was a part of a defense vs. Los Angeles Chargers (11/3) that held them to just 29 yards on 24 carries for a 1.2-yard average. It is the fewest rushing yards allowed since holding Miami to 15 yards on Oct. 29, 2015.
• Set a career-high in total tackles with 14 total tackles at Pittsburgh (12/7).
• Registered his second interception of the season vs. Kansas City (12/17) when he picked off a QB Patrick Mahomes pass in the fourth quarter.
• Forced a fumble at Denver (12/24) after RB Javonte Wiliams caught a pass that was recovered by DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr. at the New England 39-yard line.

2022 (17/12)

• Played in 17 games with 12 starts at linebacker and recorded 63 tackles (32 solo, 31 assists), 1½ sacks for a loss of 12.5 yards, 2 passes defensed and six special teams tackles.
• Sacked quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a 5-yard loss on a third-down play in the second quarter to hold the Steelers to a field goal at Pittsburgh (9/18). It was his first sack as a member of the Patriots.
• Recorded a season-high eight total tackles (5 solo, 3 assist) at Green Bay (10/2).
• Made his first start as a member of the Patriots vs. Detroit (10/9). Part of the defensive unit that pitched a shutout vs. Lions. Detroit entered the game with the top-ranked offense in the NFL.
• Recorded five total tackles (5 solo, 1 assist) vs. Indianapolis (11/6). Also combine with DL Deatrich Wise Jr. on a sack for a loss of 7.5 yards. It was one of the nine sacks the defense had, which is a season high and tied for the most under Coach Belichick. Played a key role for the defensive unit that forced the Colts to go 0-for-14 on third down and allowed just 121 total yards of offense.

2021 (13/0, 1/0)

• Made his Patriots debut vs. New Orleans (9/26), seeing the field as a linebacker and on special teams in limited snaps.
• Was elevated to the active roster for the second week in a row vs. Tampa Bay (10/3). Saw the field mostly on special teams with one defensive snap.
• Was signed to the 53-man roster on October 13, 2021.
• Sees limited action on defense and special teams.
• Recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter vs. Tennessee (11/28).
• Inactive at Buffalo (12/6).
• Recorded two special teams tackles at Indianapolis (12/18)
• Recorded a special teams tackle vs. Buffalo (12/26).
• Combined for three tackles in limited snaps on defense vs. Jacksonville (1/2), as well as contributing on special teams.
• Played in his first playoff game in the Wild Card Round loss at Buffalo (1/15).

2020 (16/10 - DETROIT)

• Played in 16 games with 10 starts an finished with 56 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two special teams tackles.
• Logged a career-high 11 tackles and two forced fumbles in Week 17 vs. Minnesota (1/3/21).

2019 (15/16 - DETROIT)

• Played in 15 games with six starts and finished with 57 total tackles, two sacks for 19 yards, one interception, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
• He was the only rookie in the NFL to post 50 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one interception in 2019.
• In Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay (12/15), he recorded his first career interception.
• Notched his first career sacks at Arizona (9/8) in his regular season debut.

COLLEGE

• Played in 47 games in college and finished with 390 total tackles, 16 1/2 sacks two interceptions, five passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
• He was named First Team All-Mountain West in 2016 and Second Team All-Mountain West in 2017.

PERSONAL

• Prepped at Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif) High School where he played defensive line and tight end.
• Comes from an athletic family: older brother, J.R., is a former Tennessee Titans linebacker and younger brother, Justis plays along the defensive line for Hawaii.